General
Aplomado Falcon: Medium-sized falcon with slate-gray upperparts and plain white breast. White, moustache-striped face has pale eyebrows joining at back of head. Belly and legs are cinnamon-brown. Tail is long and banded with white and black (or gray) stripes. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has brown upperparts, streaked breast, and cinnamon-brown underparts.
Range and Habitat
Aplomado Falcon: Once bred from southwestern U.S. to the southernmost portion of South America, but largely extirpated by the 1930's; now mostly seen across Mexican-American border. Preferred habitats include deserts, grasslands, prairie, and savanna.
Breeding and Nesting
Aplomado Falcon: Three to four heavily brown-spotted, white to light pink eggs are laid in a nest built in a tree or tall shrub; usually uses an abandoned or taken by force nest of other birds, such as Chihuahuan Ravens and Swainson's Hawks. Incubation ranges from 31 to 32 days and is carried out by both parents. Young fledge at 28 to 35 days.
Foraging and Feeding
Aplomado Falcon: Mainly eats small birds, but also feeds on insects, small mammals, and other vertebrates. Hunts cooperatively in pairs, with male typically flying above female.
Vocalization
Aplomado Falcon: Utters a shrieking "keeh-keeh-keeh" and an abrasive, single-noted "keeh" or "kiih."
Similar Species
Aplomado Falcon: Prairie Falcon has brown upperparts, dark-streaked pale underparts, and white bar on pale wing lining.